Bowling Club captain Matt Crawely says he isn’t taking much away from his side’s 120-run major semi-final win against Young Blues, despite meeting them again in this Saturday’s Sportspower Cup decider.
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Crawley conceded it was a strong performance, and is pleased with the form of his side but he’s ensuring Bowling Club treats Saturday as an entire new match.
“Really, it’s been an ideal preparation,” Matt Crawley said.
“Our batsmen have spent plenty of time in the middle and our bowlers have had good opportunity to bowl decent spells, and a few players have had a rest in the past couple of weeks.
“Our game plan won’t change. It’ll be the same message as every week.”
Saturday’s semi-final win marked Bowling Club’s second of the season against the Blues, a side Crawley sees as similar to his own.
Both side’s have a strong presence of experience but continue to develop promising young players.
“Their side mirrors ours a lot. They have a lot of contributors,” Crawley said.
In a side including Nick Berry and Tim Berry, one of Bowling Club’s most valuable has been Charlie Johns.
Johns, a medium-pace opening bowler, has had a break out season, Crawley said, finishing the regular season with a massive 32 wickets.
He picked up four scalps in the major semi-final, as Young reeled at 7-46, and looms as a threat again this Saturday.
“He’s been outstanding. We’ve used him in the later overs as well but it’s been up front when he’s taken most of his wickets,” Crawley said.
Young Blues captain Cameron Jones says his side will take a different approach when batting this Saturday, after admitting the top order tried to gain the ascendancy early against Johns and his opening partner Aaron Thorn last week.
“We seem to think we can get onto their opening bowlers but last week we lost seven wickets before Nick and Tim [Berry] were even needed,” Cameron Jones said.
“We need to be patient all-round, right through the match.”
Despite holding the explosive batting weapons of Luke Cosgrove and Josh Platt, who Jones said are hugely important, the skipper is hoping both Zac Williams and Duncan Cameron can fire at the right time.
Respectively, the duo have made more than 300 runs this season, and Cameron has chimed in with a handy 17 wickets.
“[Duncan Cameron] is one player I’m hoping will fire as well as Zac Williams they’ve both scored lots of runs during the year. Duncan is also a really good bowler but has been inconsistent,” Jones said.
“If we turn up like we did against them last Saturday it’ll be an easy win for them. If we show up how we did against Canowindra on the Sunday it’ll give us every chance.”
“I’m hoping we’ve got rid of that one bad game, and I’m hoping this is our season.”
Bowling Club skipper Matt Crawley added that his side isn’t chasing redemption from last year’s loss in the decider.
“We’re not looking into last week let alone last year. We don’t need to square up or make up for anything. Last year’s done and it’s been dealt with,” Crawley said.
“Now it’s about preparing the best we can for a tough 80 overs of cricket.”
Saturday’s match begins at 1.30pm at Holman Oval.
Likey sides-
Bowling Club- M Crawley ©, N Berry, T Berry, C Day, R Graham, E Gray, S Gray, C Johns, K Johnstone, A Lovett, A Thorn, T Thuaux.
Young Blues- C Jones ©, J Lucas, J Powderly, Z Williams, L Cosgrove, J Platt, D Cameron, B Croese, D Schofield, C Powderly, H Williams.
